NCJ Number
14243
Date Published
1973
Length
257 pages
Annotation
TREATS THE LIMITATIONS OF CRIME STATISTICS, THEORIES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR CAUSES, METHODS OF COURT PROCESSING FOR ADULTS AND JUVENILES, AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PENAL SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE RATIONALES FOR VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF CRIMINAL ACTS ARE ANALYZED. CAUTION IS URGED IN MAKING GENERAL CONCLUSIONS FROM CRIME STATISTICS BECAUSE OF THE AMBIGUITIES AND RELATIVITIES INVOLVED IN ANY MEASURE OF THE EXTENT AND SERIOUSNESS OF CRIME. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL, CONSTITUTIONAL AND PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED, WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIOR IS A RESULT OF A COMPLEX BLEND OF ALL THESE ACTORS. COURT AND SENTENCING PROCESSING IS DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO ADULTS, YOUTH, THE MENTALLY DISORDERED, FEMALES, SEX OFFENDERS, RECIDIVISTS, AND THOSE WHO ABUSE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. NO PARTICULAR TREATMENT METHODS ARE COMMENDED AS HAVING PROVEN EFFECTIVE. EMPHASIS IS UPON A REALISTIC, OBJECTIVE SURVEY OF GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE AND THE DANGERS OF ACTING UPON ABSOLUTISTIC ASSUMPTIONS IN AN AREA THAT IS EMOTIVE AND COMPLEX.